Hypselodoris purpureomaculosa

Hypselodoris purpureomaculosa
A paler than average colour form of Hypselodoris purpureomaculosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Gastropoda
(unranked): clade Heterobranchia
clade Euthyneura
clade Nudipleura
clade Nudibranchia
Superfamily: Doridoidea
Family: Chromodorididae
Genus: Hypselodoris
Species: H. purpureomaculosa
Binomial name
Hypselodoris purpureomaculosa
Hamatani, 1995[1]

Hypselodoris purpureomaculosa is a species of colourful sea slug or dorid nudibranch, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Chromodorididae.

Distribution

This nudibranch is found in Japan, Okinawa and the Philippines.[1]

Hypselodoris purpureomaculosa at Verde Island, the Philippines.

Description

Hypselodoris purpureomaculosa is white, with a distinct orange fringed mantle, orange gills and rhinophores. The specific epithet purpureomaculosa refers to the purple spots on its upper mantle that vary in colour from red to black in some individuals. This species reaches a length of at least 40 mm.

Ecology

Hypselodoris purpureomaculosa feeds on sponges and appears to eat mainly the purple coloured sponges of the genus Euryspongia.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Hypselodoris purpureomaculosa Hamatani, 1995. Sea Slug Forum. Accessed 12 February 2009.
  2. ↑ http://www.seaslugforum.net/showall.cfm?base=hypspurp
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